Manual selection means for automatic phonograph



April 1966 D. c. ROCKOLA 3,247,737

MANUAL SELECTION MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Original Filed March 10,1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ig-i.

INVENT 0R. Q avrial April 1966 D. c. ROCKOLA 3,247,737

MANUAL SELECTION MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Original Filed March 10.1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 S INVENTOR.

April 26, 1966 D c. ROCKOLA MANUAL SELECTION MEANS FOR AUTOMATICPHONOGRAPH Original Filed March 10, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ywzn QM April26, 1966 D. c. ROCKOLA MANUAL SELECTION MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 6Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed March 10. 1961 April 1966 D. c. ROCKOLA3,247,737

MANUAL SELECTION MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Original Filed March 10,1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 V IN VEN TOR. flaw! g fic %21 )5. 42 110 "an.)fimzw April 26, 1966 D c. ROCKOLA MANUAL SELECTION MEANS FOR AUTOMATICPHONOGRAPH 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed March 10, 1961 United StatesPatent f 3,247,737 MANUAL SELECTION MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH David(J. Rockola, Qhicago, 111., assignor to Rock-01a ManufacturingCorporation, Chicago, 1th, a corporation of Delaware Originalapplication Mar. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 94,739, new Patent No. 3,183,005,dated May 11, 1965. Divided and this application Aug; 13, 1964, Ser. No.395,636 4 Claims. (0. 74--433) The present invention relates toautomatic phonographs. The present application is a division of myapplication Serial No. 94,739 filed March 1961, now Patent No. 3,183,005issued May 11, 1965.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel pushbutton assemblyfor use in making manual selections of records in automatic phonographsand the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selection pushbuttonassembly having novel interlocking means for preventing undesiredadditional selecting operations before previous selections arecompleted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will ap pear from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic phonograph embodying thefeatures of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the pushbutton assembly,- taken from the leftend of FIG. 4;

'FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the phonograph with the front of thecabinet open, and an internal cover panel removed;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pushbutton assembly andtaken approximately at line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view of only certain of the members included in FIG. 4,isolated from the remaining structure, and oriented in the samedirection as FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the pushbutton assembly shown in FIG. 4, asviewed from vantage 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the pushbutton as- I sembly andtaken approximately at line 77 of FIG. 4;

and

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a portion of the electrical circuit utilized inthe automatic phonograph, as related to the novel selection mechanism ofthe phonograph, and

including in heavy lines that portion thereof that is energized in aninitial or early step in the sequence of operations of the phonograph.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, attention is directed first toFIGS. 1 and 3 showing the general organization of the automaticphonograph embodying the features of the invention. Referring to FIGS. 1and 3, the automatic phonograph indicated as a whole at 12 includes acabinet 14 having a front side facing the observer in FIGS. 1 and 3. Thecabinet includes two front closure members 16 and 18 covering the lowerand upper portions respectively of the otherwise open front The upperclosure member 18 is provided with a trans-,

parent panel 20 for observation by the patron of certain operating partswithin the cabinet. It also includes a program area indicated in itsentirety at 22 having a plurality of tabs 24, one for each of therecords contained in the phonograph and each tab having titles thereonfor "Ice both sides of the records. Also incorporated in the upperclosure panel 18 is a pushbutton assembly of this invention indicated inits entirety at 26 which will be described in detail hereinbelow.

The principal operating parts of which only portions are exposed to thepatron through the transparent panel 20 (FIG. 1) include a recordmagazine 28, a turntable 30, a record transfer mechanism 32 and a tonearm 34. Provided in the interior of the cabinet is a transversegenerally horizontal panel 36 concealing many of the operating parts andother components in the cabinet, but having openings for exposingportions thereof, mainly the magazine turntable, transfer mechanism andtone arm. This horizontal panel 36 is removed from FIG. 3 for exposingin that figure, more of the operating parts of the phonograph.

Attention is now directed more specifically to FIG. 3 wherein theinternal components referred to above are illustrated With additionalcomponents. Reference is made to my copending application, Serial No.79,344, filed December 29, 1960, now Patent No. 3,129,005, issued April14, 1964, disclosing and claiming certain features disclosed in thepresent application. Further details not described herein may be foundfully described in that copending application. In addition to thecomponents referred to above a popularity meter 38 is provided whichalso incorporates a record indicator therein. Also a selector drum 40 isprovided.

The record transfer mechanism 32 includes a gripper arm 63 for grippingthe records and transferring them between the magazine and theturntable. The operating mechanism includes a reversing mechanismdescribed in the above entitled application Serial No. 79,344, now

'U.S. Patent 3,129,005, and this reversing mechanism in addition tocontrolling the placement of the records on the turntable also controlsan indicator arm 62 for co operation with indicia on the popularitymeter 38. The indicia 38 includes two rows of inscriptions,corresponding to respective sides of the records, for example. Thearrangement is such that in one revolution of the magazine the obversesides of the records are played, while in succeeding rotation thereverse sides are played.

The reversing mechanism operates to swing the indicator arm 62 to eachof opposite positions wherein the aperture 64 in that arm exposes theinscriptions in the corresponding row. When the selected record reachesthe indexing position (adjacent the top) the indicium of meter 38corresponding to that record is at a viewing position, namely inregister with the aperture 64, and the position of the arm 62 determineswhich indicium is in line with the aperture, and the position of the arm62 in turn is determined by the reversing mechanism referred to whichdetermines which side of the selected record is played.

-While the reversing mechanism as such is disclosed and claimed in otherpatents, such, for example, as my Patent No. 2,804,307, dated August 27,1957, reference to certain phases thereof are made herein for purposesof facilitating description of the novel features of the presentinvention. Among the features directly affecting the operation of theparts making up the present invention is an arm 66 (FIG. 3) which isswung alternately vertically to upper and lower positions in synchronismwith the reversing mechanism, and this arm controls a switch 68 as byclosing it and by permitting it to open, or vice versa, in

response to the vertical movements of the arm. The switch means 70performs certain control functions either directly or related to certainphases of the selector drum 40 and associated instrumentalities.

The selector drum 40 is in the form of a unitized construction and isincorporated in a selector assembly indicated in its entirety at 70,which includes a write-in car- "'5 =1? riage 72 and a read-out carriage(not shown), both arranged for sweeping over the drum 40 about the axisof a central shaft to operate selector levers thereon for eachrecording, in the selecting and playing operations.

Attention is next directed to the pushbutton assembly 26 (FIG. 1) andthe detailed construction thereof shown in FIGS, 2, and 4-7, inclusive.Included in the pushbutton assembly are a plurality of pushbuttons 252arranged in two rows 252a and 25% respectively. Those in the first rowbearing letters of the alphabet and those in the second row numerals.There are 10 pushbuttons in each row affording 100 combinations forselectionsof the 100 sides on 50 records, the capacity assumed in thepresent disclosure. Each pushbutton 252 includes an outerfinger-engaging block or body portion 254 and an inner stem or plunger256 arranged for sliding movementin inward direction, in response tomanual depression by the finger, and biased to an outward position by acompression spring 258 compressed between a collar on the stern and afixed element 260 of the frame of the pushbutton assembly.

Associated with the rows 252a and 2521) of pushbuttons are lockbars 262mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in directions transverse tothe depressing movement of the pushbuttons, in response to depression ofthose pushbuttons. These lockbars 262 are identical except opposite inarrangement and each includes ten inclined slots 264 associated with thepushbuttons of the corresponding row. Each stem 256 of the pushbuttonsincludes a slot 266 (FIG. 5) receiving the bar 262 and having atransverse element 268 above the corresponding slot 264 and adapted forentry into the corresponding slot upon depression of the pushbutton.Upon such depression of any pushbutton, and entry of the element 268,into the corresponding slot 264, the lockbar 262 is cammed in theappropriate direction which is to the left as viewed in FIGS. 4, 5 and6. The lockbars 262 may be mounted in any suitable fixed elements of theframe of the pushbutton assembly and are biased to a retracted position(to the right-FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) by compression springs 270 interposedbetween shoulders on the lockbars and fixed elements in the frame.

Each lockbar is provided with a laterally spaced supplementary barelement 26217 rigidly secured thereto and positioned laterally beyondthe stems 256 of the pushbuttons for facilitating mounting of a latchpawl 272. The latch pawl is pivoted on a pin 274- fixed on the barelement 262b, and includes an extension 276 connected to which is oneend of a tension spring 278, the other end of the spring being connectedto the bar element 262b, for biasing the latch pawl in correspondingdirection, or counterclockwise and downwardly as viewed in FIGS. 4 and5. Each latch pawl adjacent its swinging end is provided with anaperture 280 receiving a pin 282 mounted in a fixed element of the frameof the pushbutton assembly. The upper edge of the aperture 280 includesa lower element 284 and an upper element 286 between which is a verticalshoulder 288.

When, the lockbar 262 is moved in advancing direction (to the left-FIG.5), and the tension spring 270 swings the latch pawl 272 downwardly(when otherwise free to do so), the'vertical shoulder 288 engages infront of the pin 282 and locks the lockbar in advanced position.However, in the control movements of the lockbars 2.62, blocking leverarms 290 are moved in upward direction, and they hold the latch pawls272 in upper position, and prevent the shoulders 288 from engaging infront of the pins 282. The arms 290 are controlled through certainelectrical instrumentalities as explained hereinbelow. Upon a selectionbeing made by depression of the corresponding pushbuttons 254, and thelockbars 262 being advanced, if conditions are otherwise appropriate forthe selection to be made, the arms 2% are lowered and the latch pawls272 are permitted to be lowered under the action of the springs 278 forthe locking operation as explained.

The blocking arms 290 which control the position of the latch pawls 272are themselves controlled by solenoid 2% which will be referred to againin the description of the electrical circuit. This solenoid remainsenergized so long as there is credit set up on the machine by thedeposit of coins by a patron for the purpose of playing the records. Thesolenoid 294 is mounted in suitable frame elements of the assembly andhas an armature 296 attracted inwardly upon energization of the solenoidand outwardly by the tension spring 298 upon deenergization of thesolenoid. The blocking arms 280, as best shown in FIGS.'6 and 7, arepivotally mounted on suitable pins 300. Upon energization of thesolenoid, and raising of the armature 296 thereof, the inner ends of thearms 290 are raised, resulting in lowering of the outer end of the armsand permitting the latch pawls 272 (FIG. 5) to be lowered under theaction of the springs 278 so that the locking effect can beaccomplished, namely, the pins 282 engaged by the vertical shoulders288. Conversely, when the solenoid 294 is deenergized, the spring 298positively lowers the armature and the inner endsof the arms 290, thisspring being stronger than the springs 278 and operative for forciblyraising the outer ends of the arms 2% and raising the latch pawls 272 totheir upper position shown in full lines in FIG. 5 thereby preventingthe locking action referred to. Thus, so long as credit is set up in themachine, and the solenoid consequently remains energized, the lockbars262 are locked inadvanced position upon a selection being made bydepression of the pushbuttons 254. While on the other hand, if there isno credit set up in the machine, the solenoid remains deenergized, anddepression of the pushbuttons advances the lockbars 262 but then areheld in advanced position only while the pushbuttons are held indepressed position, and upon release thereof they are returned to theirnormal outer position and the lockbars 262 are returned to their home orretracted positions.

The transverse elements 268 (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the stems 256 of thepushbuttons are all arranged in register with the open ends of therespective slots 264 when the lockbars 262 are in their retractedpositions. Thus upon depression of any pushbutton, the correspondingtransverse element 268 enters into the slot and advances the bar. Whenthe lockbar 262 is locked in advanced position, in the manner justdescribed, the open ends of the slots 264 corresponding to thosepushbuttons which have not been depressed, are out of register with thecorresponding transverse elements 268 and thus only the one pushbuttonin each row 252 can be depressed at a time.

Each selection requires the depression of a pushbutton in each of therows 252a and 252b, namely a letter pushbutton and a numeral pushbutton,and upon depression of these pushbuttons, when all other conditions areproperly set up for operation of the phonograph, the operation begins.

The pushbutton assembly includes switches 302 and 304 arranged foractuation by the latch pawls 272. In the instant construction, theseswitches are arranged for closure in response to the latch pawls 272being swung downwardly, and they are held in closed position so long asthe latch pawls remain in lowered position. Additional switches 386 and308 are arranged for actuation by the lockbars 262 in response toadvancing movement of those bars, by means of turned over ends 310(FIGS. 4 and 5) which engage the leaves of those switches. In the caseof the switches 302 and 394, these are actuated only when the lockbars262 are advanced and the latch pawls 272 are in lowered position, but onthe other hand, the switches 306 and 308 are actuated by the lockbarseach time the latter are advanced.

Also included in the pushbutton assembly are other switches actuated bythe pushbuttons, these switches being a first row 312 associated withthe letter pushbuttons 252a and a second row of switches 314 associatedwith the number pushbuttons 252b, These switches include a plungerelement 315 (FIG. 6) mechanically connected to the stems 256 of thepushbuttons and contact elements 316 on each plunger element arrangedfor engaging contact elements mounted on fixed frame elements of theassembly. The switches, of known type, include terminal elements 319 forconnection of conductors thereto. The switches 312 in the letterpushbuttons 252a have three contact elements while the other switches314 associated with the number pushbuttons 252b have only two contactelements.

Attention is directed next to the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 8, butdifferent portions thereof are shown energized in different figures, theheavy lines indicating energized portions. The diagram is shown asincluding an AC. line 317 and a D.C. line 318 connected with a commonreturn 320. Certain of the electrical instrumentalities identified abovewill be found herein, including the lockbar solenoid 294 (left end) thepushbutton lockbar switch for the letter pushbuttons 306, and thecorresponding switch 308 for the number pushbuttons. Additionally, thelatch pawl switch 302 for the letter pushbuttons and the latch pawlswitch 304 for the number pushbuttons are shown at the left end of thecircuit.

The other switches, namely 312 and 314, connected with the pushbuttonstems or plungers are adjacent the center of the diagram. The three"contacts of the letter pushbutton-s shown at 312 and individuallyidentified in banks or groups 312A, 3123, there being ten in each group,one of each group being related to the corresponding pushbutton.

The other switches 314, associated with the letter push buttons, arealso shown in the diagram, these switches having two contacts each, asexplained above, and here identified as 314A and 3143, there being tenin each of these groups and one of each group associated with each ofthe number pushbuttons.

A coin control switch assembly 322 (right, top) of known type isincorporated in the electrical circuit, having individual switches 322a,3221;, 322c and 322a, respectively closed momentarily by insertion ofcoins in the usual coin insert means. The individual switches thereof,as indicated, represent different values of coins and for purposes ofexample herein the 25 switch 3220 is shown closed, which completes acircuit portion through the circuit diagram. Associated with theswitches is a coil assembly 324 (right, bottom) including a plurality ofcoils 324a, 3124b and 3240. Included in the circuit also is a creditunit which also may be of known kind, such for example as disclosedinthe co-pending application of myself and others, Serial No. 849,546,filed October 29, 1959, now Patent No. 3,082,853, issued March 26, 1963.The credit unit includes .a toothed ratchet which is advanced in stepscorresponding to the value of the coins inserted, being advanced by thethree coils 324 according to the values of the coins with which they areassociated. For example, upon the insert-ion of a 25 piece the switch3220 is closed whereupon the coil 324a is energized, this coil advancingthe toothed ratchet in the credit unit an amount representing 25, suchas five increments or steps. The toothed ratchet closes the accumulatorcredit switch 326 (left, lower) and this switch remains closed so longas any credit is set up in the credit unit, in a known manner.Conversely, when all of the credit is expended, and the toothed ratchetreturns to its home or retracted position, the switch 326 is permittedto open. As an incidental operation to the energization of the coil324a, an additional switch 328 is closed (left, lower) for lighting asignal light suitably placed in the phonograph to indicate to the patronthat a selection may be made.

The accumulator credit switch 326 is included in a conductor 330 whichalso includes the lockbar solenoid 294 and an attract delay relay switch332 (upper left hand corner) which is controlled by an attract delayrelay coil 334 (upper right hand corner). Thus upon deposit 6 of thecoin. and closure of the switch 332, a circuit is completed from the DC.source 318 to the common return 320; as a result of the closure of thenormally open switch 326 by the operation just referred to, a secondcircuit is closed from the AC. source 317 to the common return 320. Thisthus sets up the circuit for the next operation which is depression ofthe pushbuttons 252 which may now be done effectively, with operatingsteps taking place in the machine.

At this stageof the condition of the circuit the lockbar solenoid 294,being energized, holds the armature 296 (FIG. 7) in raised positionwhich relieves the force of the armature on the inner ends of the arms291). As a consequence the tension springs 278 (FIGS. 4 and 5) move thelatch pawls 272 downwardly (FIG. 5) so that upon depression of thepushbuttons the lockbars 262 when advanced (to the left-FIGS. 4 and 5)will be locked in advanced position by the shoulders 28% engaging thepins 282, as explained above.

An important feature of the invention is the arrangement of the variouselements in the electrical portion of the machine that are utilized forestablishing the permutations in a simple manner so as to effect theattainment of maximum permutations with a minimum number of elements.For this purpose the switches 312 and 314 are separated into differentparts, these parts being adapted for selective connection forestablishing maximum permutations.

As many selecting operations as desired may be made without regard towhether the select-ed records are played, that is, it is not necessaryin making a record selection to wait for the first to be played. Aftereach depression of the necessary pushbuttons, the write-in carriagemoves to the corresponding position and sets the corresponding selectorlever, and the next selection can be made, and after a single selectionis made, the corresponding playing operation is performed and repeateduntil any additional selected records are played. For a fuller and moredetailed description and understanding of the present invention,particularly as to the adaption and utilization thereof in a preferredembodiment and environment, as well asfor greater particulars as to theoperation of this invention in the circuitry shown in FIGURE 8 and therelationship thereof to the various elements of an automatic phonographreferred to hereinabove, reference is hereby made to the fulldescription appearing in my co-pending application Serial No. 94,739filed March 10, 1961, now US. Patent No. 3,183,005, issued May 11, 1965,of which the present application is a division. Since the presentapplication constitutes a divisional application of its above-identifiedparent application Serial No. 94,739 all portions of the description anddrawings appearing in said parent application and the aforesaid patentissued thereon, which do not appear herein are incorporated in full, asa part of the present description.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formshereinbefore described being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

I claim:

1. A selector pushbutton assembly comprising a frame,

two groups of depressible pushbuttons, a bar associated with each groupslidable longitudinally to an advanced position in a directiontransverse to the direction of depression of the pushbuttons, thepushbuttons and bars having interengaging portions operable upondepression of the pushbuttons for advancing the bars, advancement of abar by depression of a selected pushbutton of its associated groupserving to prevent depression of any other pushbutton of that group, alatch pawl pivoted adjacent each bar and movable to and from latchingposition, a pin fixed on the frame adjacent each latch pawl andpositioned for engagement by the latch pawl when the latter is inlatching position for consequent retention of the bar in advancedposition, means normally biasing the latch pawls to latching position,blocking means movable into and out of a position blocking the latchpawls from latching position, means normally biasing the blocking meansto blocking position, and solenoid means operative for moving theblocking means out of blocking position.

2. A selector pushbutton assembly comprising a frame, a plurality ofgroups of depressible pushbuttons, a bar associated with each of saidgroups and slidable longitudinally in a direction transverse to thedirection of depression of the pushbuttons thereof, each pushbuttonincluding a stern having a transverse element disposed across theassociated bar, each bar having plural incline slots, one registeringlyaligned with each transverse element, for receiving the latter inresponse to depression of the associated pushbutton whereby each bar inresponse to depression of any selected one pushbutton of an associatedgroup thereof is moved longitudinally to advanced position whereatassociated slots and transverse elements of the remaining pushbuttons ofthat group are unregisteringly aligned to prevent the depression of anyother pushbutton of that said group; a latch pawl operatively relatedwith each bar, remote of said slots therein, and controllably movable toa latching'position for independently latching each bar in said advancedposition; means individually biasing the latch pawls to their latchingpositions, means movable into and out of position positively blockingmovement of all latch pawls to and removing the same from latchingposition, and means controllably moving the blocking means into and outof its said blocking position.

3. The invention set out in claim 2 in which yieldable means is providedfor biasing the blocking means to blocking position, and solenoid meansis provided for counteracting said yieldable means and moving theblocking means out of blocking position.

4. A selector pushbutton assembly comprising a frame, a groupedplurality of depressible pushbuttons mounted on said frame, a slidablebar associated with said pushbuttons and movable longitudinally in adirection transverse to the direction of depressing movement thereof,said bar and pushbuttons having normally aligned and interengageableconformations which when engaged operate to move said bar longitudinallyto an advanced position, the depression of any one of said plurality ofpushbuttons causing said bar to move to said advanced position wherebythe conformations associated with the remaining of said pushbuttons areno longer aligned and depression of said remaining pushbuttons isthereby prevented, means normally biasing said bar out of said advancedposition, latch means operativelyassociated with said bar and movable tolatching position for positively retaining said bar in said advancedposition, and means for controlling operational movement of said latchmeans into and out of said latching position.

UNIT ED STATES PATENTS References Cited by the Examiner 2,259,15610/1941 Ebert et a1. 340-162 2,319,945 5/1943 Osborne et al. 340-162 X2,378,557 6/1945 Jensen et al. 340-162 X 2,411,612 11/1945 Boyajian340-162 2,551,522 5/1951 Andres 340-162 2,621,241 12/1952 Jensen 340-1622,909,761 10/1959 Rockola 340-162 NEIL C. READ, Primary Examiner.

PETER XIARHOS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A SELECTOR PUSHBUTTON ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FRAME, TWO GROUPS OFDEPRESSIBLE PUSHBUTTONS A BAR ASSOCIATED WITH EACH GROUP SLIDABLELONGITUDINALLY TO AN ADVANCED POSITION IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THEDIRECTION OF DEPRESSION OF THE PUSHBUTTONS, THE PUSHBUTTONS AND BARSHAVING INTERENGAGING PORTIONS OPERABLE UPON DEPRESSION OF THEPUSHBUTTONS FOR ADVANCING THE BARS, ADVANCEMENT OF A BAR BY DEPRESSIONOF A SELECTED PUSHBUTTON OF ITS ASSOCIAATED GROUP SERVING TO PREVENTDEPRESSION OF ANY OTHER PUSHBUTTON OF THAT GROUP, A LATCH PAWL PIVOTEDADJACENT EACH BAR AND MOVABLE TO AND FROM LATCHING POSITION, A PIN FIXEDON THE FRAME ADJACENT EACH LATCH PAWL AND POSITIONED FOR ENGAGEMENT BYTHE LATCH PAWL WHEN THE LATTER IS IN LATCHING POSITION FOR CONSEQUENTRETENTION OF THE BAR IN ADVANCED POSITION, MEANS NORMALLY BIASING THELATCH PAWLS TO LATCHING POSITION, BLOCKING MEANS MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OFA POSITION BLOCKING THE LATCH PAWLS FROM LATCHING POSITION, MEANSNORMALLY BIASING THE BLOCKING MEANS TO BLOCING POSITION, AND SOLENOIDMEANS OPERATIVE FOR MOVING THE BLOCKING MEANS OUT OF BLOCKING POSITION.